Partly due to the Coronavirus-inflected drop in tourism in Georgia, the country is one of the latest to offer a digital nomad visa. Called “Remotely from Georgia” one of its purposes is to help stimulate the economy of the country.

A total of 95 countries can enter Georgia visa-free and you can stay up to 365 days. If you work remotely, why not work from a country with living, colorful cities, epic mountain landscapes and low living costs?

Why Georgia?

Georgia has been very successful in fighting the pandemic and is ranked as one of the world’s safest destinations. Thus, the government of Georgia decided to activate this new Visa project. The Digital Nomad Visa creates an amazing opportunity for long-term visitors, such as Entrepreneurs, Freelancers, remote workers and their families to come and stay in Georgia for at least 6 months up to one year.

From July, 2021, Georgia started hosting business visitors and activated domestic tourism; since August, 2021, long-term visitors and their families willing to live and work remotely from Georgia are welcome. If you work more than 183 days, you will automatically become a tax resident – the income tax is at a moderate 20%. However, Georgia offers an Individual Entrepreneur scheme, where your business turnover up to GEL 500,000 (around €155,000) is only taxed at 1%. With this scheme, you are also able to extend your one-year Digital Nomad Visa to a permanent residency.

Georgia is not only known for its delicious wine, but also for its Caucasus mountain views, its national parks, which are perfect for hiking or skiing and its beautiful cities, including its capital Tbilisi. Tbilisi feels like a European capital and has a vast amount of history and culture to offer.

Basing yourself as a digital nomad directly in Tbilisi has a few advantages. Not only are there cheap flights available from basically everywhere in Europe, it’s also very central and accesses mountain getaways very easy. In addition, the government created co-working and co-living spaces designed specifically for remote workers. Places like the Impact Hub Tbilisi or LOKAL offer amenities like 100mpbs Wi-Fi or furnished apartments. Fibre optic connections are even available in some parts of the city (and very cheap – around $10 USD). The farther away from the city you get, the Wi-Fi might get intermittent. Kutaisi (the country’s third most populous city and one of the worlds oldest) is also just a direct train ride away. In the hot summer months, the black sea coast offers a great seaside retreat. There are a lot of places where you can go while searching inspiration for work or relaxing after it.

Georgia is considered one of the most attractive countries to offer Digital Nomad visas.

Applying for such a Visa is easy, fast, totally free and can be done 100% online.

Requirements:

• you either work remotely for a company based outside of Georgia or own a location independent business
• Financial ability to pay taxes while you are staying in Georgia
• Minimum income of 2000$ or more per month (or a bank statement showing 24.000 $)
• Mandatory quarantine (and COVID-19 Vaccine Certificate/negative PCR Test)
• Travel insurance (valid for a minimum of six months)
• Willing to follow the country’s protocols

Application process:

You can apply for your digital nomad visa online and it’s completely free. Usually, your application will be processed in 10 working days. To apply, fill out the online application form and attach/upload the required files:

• a copy of your passport's Bio-Page
• financial proof: this can be a Bank Certificate or Statements, Stock Statements, Bank deposit letters, contracts with fixed reimbursements, etc. As mentioned, your salary must be 2000 USD at least, more if traveling with dependents.
• documents proving your work/status in a company: o Freelancer: freelancing contracts for the past 12 months o Full-time employee: letter of confirmation from the organization or Certificate of Employment o Entrepreneur or business owner: company ownership or partnership statement
• medical insurance (minimum of 6 months valid)

Fill out all details, and if you are travelling with your family, don’t forget to fill out these forms as well. Read the terms, agree, and send your application.

Once approved, you can go to Georgia and enjoy your stay there!

COVID-19:

If you are travelling by air you need a document confirming the full course of any COVID-19 vaccination (two doses, one dose in case of Johnson & Johnson) or one dose of vaccination and a document confirming recovery from the Covid-infection (confirmed positive PCR-test) during the last 100 days. Crossing the border by land or sea you will need an additional negative PCR test taken in the last 72 hours prior to the visit to Georgia. Children under the age of 10 do not need to submit a negative PCR test. Conditions of entry for non-vaccinated people vary, depending on the country you are from. For detailed information, best to check out the entry requirements to get the latest updates concerning entry rules.

For more information, visit our dedicated page to all things related to Digital Nomad Visas

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Jürgen Pretsch is a professional researcher and consultant, but first and foremost, he is a "serial expat" and contemporary "digital nomad". Having lived in nearly a dozen countries, Jürgen has produced extensive research for major private institutions and governments. At the moment, Jürgen is pioneering work relating to expatpreneurship, and will continue to provide resourceful articles in the global mobility space.

Connect with Jürgen today to learn more about his Advisory & Consulting services.

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